Patents by Inventor Martin Kirchmair

Martin Kirchmair has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240060258
    Abstract: A snow groomer vehicle including a frame, two tracks, and a drive unit connected to the two tracks to move the snow groomer vehicle. The snow groomer vehicles includes at least one working device selected from the group of working devices including: a winch, a tiller assembly, and a shovel, in particular the working device being connected to the frame by a connecting device. The snow groomer vehicle includes at least one control device configured to control at least one parameter of the snow groomer vehicle, preferably relating to the tracks or to the at least one working device, the control device being configured to control in a first operating mode the at least one parameter based on the operator's control instructions received via the user interface, on the data received via the radio communication unit, and on the position detected via the position detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Francesco Salis, Alberto Paoletti
  • Publication number: 20240010477
    Abstract: A crawler vehicle for the preparation of ski runs; the crawler vehicle comprising: a frame; a winch mounted on the frame for selectively unwinding and winding a cable that can be anchored to a point outside the crawler vehicle; an arm, which is mounted swivelling with respect to the frame around a determined axis, and is configured to guide the cable; an actuating system of the arm around the determined axis; a control device of the actuating system of the arm for selectively setting one of the following operating modes when the cable is under tension: enabling the free rotation of the arm around the determined axis; rotating the arm around the determined axis; locking the position of the arm with respect to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Alberto Paoletti, Markus Unterholzner, Gregor Maurer, Francesco Salis
  • Publication number: 20230366160
    Abstract: A snow groomer vehicle comprising: a frame (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (70); a tiller assembly (9) connected to the frame (2) by a connecting device (21), preferably the tiller assembly (9) comprising a tiller (9a) and a finisher (9b); at least one control device (17) coupled to the tiller assembly (9) and configured to control at least two parameters of the tiller assembly the control device (17) comprising a memory configured to store at least two groups of values (N, M), preferably four groups of values (N, M, P, Q), relating to the at least two parameters (A, B), wherein each group of values (N, M) includes at least one value for each of the at least two parameters (A, B); the control device (17) being configured to receive the selection of a group of values of the at least two groups of values (N, M) and control the at least two parameters of the tiller assembly (9) according to the values of the selected group of values (N; M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Stephan Muehlsteiger, Andreas Silbernagl, Alberto Paoletti
  • Publication number: 20230278626
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle for preparing ski slopes has a chassis extending along a longitudinal axis; a winch mounted on the chassis; a boom pivoting about a pivot axis to guide and orientate the cable of the winch between the chassis and the cable anchor point; an actuation system for rotating the boom about the pivot axis relative to the chassis in a first and second direction; and a user interface comprising a first and a second switch arranged in front of an operator and to the right and left of each other and configured to rotate the boom so as to steer the tracked vehicle to the right and to the left respectively when the cable is anchored to the cable anchor point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Alberto Paoletti, Francesco Salis
  • Publication number: 20230259154
    Abstract: Tracked vehicle comprising: a frame extending along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of tracks; at least an accessory device selected from a group comprising a blade, a tiller assembly and a winch assembly; and a user interface comprising a control device coupled to the plurality of tracks to drive the advance of the tracked vehicle; and a joystick coupled to the at least accessory device to drive the movements of the at least accessory device; wherein the joystick comprises a lever configured so that it can be move in any direction with respect to a rest position; wherein the joystick comprises a detector assembly to detect a movement of the lever with respect to the rest position and to emit an output signal based on the detected movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Casartelli, Martin Kirchmair, Alberto Paoletti, Francesco Salis
  • Publication number: 20230228050
    Abstract: A snow groomer vehicle comprising: at least one implement selected from: a blade and a tiller assembly; at least one first detection device configured to define data by processing the areas of the environment behind the snow groomer and framed by said first detection device; at least one satellite navigation device and/or a second detection device; wherein the second detection device is configured to define data by processing the areas of the environment in front of the snow groomer vehicle and framed by said device; a control system including a processing unit configured to process the data from the satellite navigation device and/or from at least the second detection device and to define an objective map of a desired snow treatment; the processing unit being configured to define at least one first desired implement configuration defined on the basis of an objective map in such a way that the passage of the implement causes the snowpack to change according to a desired conformation; the processing unit be
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: PRINOTH S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Salis, Martin Kirchmair, Richard Casartelli, Alberto Paoletti
  • Publication number: 20230213947
    Abstract: Method for locating a vehicle, such as a crawler vehicle and in particular a snow grooming vehicle, within a working region, the working region comprising at least one reference element. The method comprising: acquiring a reference model of the working region comprising reference data relating to the at least one reference element; detecting, via at least one sensor of the vehicle, data relating to an area of the working region surrounding the vehicle; comparing the data detected by the at least one sensor with the reference data to verify whether at least a part of the data detected by the at least one sensor corresponds to the reference data; and determining a position of the vehicle within the working region on the basis of the comparison between the data detected by the at least one sensor and the reference data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventor: Martin Kirchmair
  • Publication number: 20230202288
    Abstract: A crawler vehicle for the preparation of ski runs has a frame; a cabin mounted on the frame; a first and a second drive wheel driven by a first and a second hydraulic motor respectively; a battery assembly and an electric motor fed by the battery assembly, which are mounted on the frame behind the cabin and mainly under the cabin; and a power transmission assembly configured to transmit power from the electric motor to the hydraulic motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Alberto Paoletti
  • Publication number: 20230160164
    Abstract: A snow tooth for a snow tiller for preparing the snowpack of ski slopes; the snow tooth comprising a first projection having a first height and a second projection having a second height, the first height and the second height; the snow tooth being shaped so as to be connected to a rotating shaft and have, in use, a main direction of rotation. The first projection is arranged along the snow tooth so that, in use, the first projection sinks into the snowpack before the second projection in particular when, in use, the snow tooth is attached to a shaft of the snow tiller and the shaft rotates in the main direction of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Markus Unterholzner, Mirko Insam
  • Publication number: 20230125266
    Abstract: A crawler vehicle has a frame; a working tool hinged at the back of the frame around a yaw axis; and actuation system, which is configured to act between the working tool and the frame; and a control device, which is configured to calculate a value of the steering radius of the crawler vehicle and to control the actuation system so as to selectively: enable the working tool to freely oscillate about the yaw axis when the calculated value of the steering radius is comprised within a reference interval; keep the position of the working tool blocked with respect to the frame when the calculated value of the steering radius is outside the reference interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Alberto Paoletti, Alex Wood, Jean Francois Labbe
  • Patent number: 11597456
    Abstract: A cross-link for tracks of snow groomers, the cross-link comprising a section bar, which has an elongated shape, extends in a first direction, is limited by an outer surface and comprises a portion for fixing to at least one belt of a track of a snow groomer, and it is provided with an inner cavity, which extends through the section bar in the first direction, and is open at the side in the first direction; wherein the inner cavity is filled, at least in part, with a filling material comprising metal foam, and in certain embodiments, the inner cavity is completely filled with the filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gregor Maurer, Martin Kirchmair
  • Publication number: 20230036971
    Abstract: A snow groomer with touch screen controls for tensioning tracks, suspension, drive unit, accessories and other, comprising: a plurality of tracks; at least one accessory device selected in a group comprising a shovel or blade, a tiller assembly and a winch assembly; and a user interface comprising a display and a selector device for receiving commands from an operator, preferably the selector device is a device that detects a touch of an operator on the display; a control unit coupled to the user interface, in particular to the display, for sending images to be displayed to the display and receiving commands from the display which are related to the touches detected; wherein the control unit is configured to display on the display a main screen divided into a plurality of main screen portions, wherein the plurality of main screen portions are displayed together in the main screen and each in a different position in the main screen; wherein each main screen portion is configured to display an image that ill
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Prinoth S.p.A.
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Stephan Muehlsteiger
  • Publication number: 20230020247
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle for finishing the ground, in particular a snow grooming vehicle for finishing ski slopes; the vehicle comprising: a main supporting frame configured for supporting side tracks and an upper cabin; at least one working assembly, such as a tiller assembly, frontally and posteriorly coupled to the main frame and configured for finishing the ground during the movement of the vehicle; a lifting device for the working assembly and configured for selectively switching the working assembly between a first lowered working position, wherein it is in contact with the ground, and a second raised inactive position, wherein it is not in contact with the ground; at least one hydraulic stabilizing device acting on the working assembly and configured so that in the first lowered working position it does not inhibit the movement of the working assembly with respect to the main supporting frame, and in the second raised inactive position it stabilizes the working assembly with greater resistance to movement wit
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Markus Unterholzner
  • Patent number: 11505906
    Abstract: A user interface for a snow groomer or other tracked vehicle, such as tracked carrier to carry and enable use of work equipment on various terrains, is provided. The user interface may comprise an input device, an output device and a controller. The controller is configured to receive from the input device an indication of a desired snow grooming distance, and the controller is further configured to measure a distance traveled by the snow groomer, and to cause the output device to convey a remaining distance to be traveled by the snow groomer, the remaining distance being the difference between the desired snow grooming distance and the distance traveled by the snow groomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Prinoth Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Thibault, Martin Kirchmair, Michel Pelletier, Patrick Hebert, Francis Gendron, Ariane Authier, Stephane Bergeron, Francois Paquet
  • Patent number: 11338870
    Abstract: A belt for tracked vehicles suitable for being driven in a closed loop between a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle along a longitudinal direction and for supporting a plurality of transverse bars adapted to stick in the ground along at least a portion of the lower run of the belt loop; the belt comprising a fabric multi-layer internal structure embedded in vulcanized rubber, wherein at least a portion of the fabric fiber of at least one layer is made of aramid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Gregor Maurer
  • Patent number: 11299221
    Abstract: A transverse bar for tracks of snow groomers is defined by a section bar, which extends in a direction, and is provided with an inner cavity, which extends through the section bar in the direction, is laterally open in the direction, and is at least partially filled with a water-repellent polymer filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Martin Kirchmair, Gregor Maurer
  • Patent number: 11267337
    Abstract: A noise reducing system for a tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle comprising a cab and at least one track that extends along a direction of travel of the vehicle and comprises at least a plurality of bars, such as metal bars, transverse to the direction of travel. The noise reducing system comprising a control unit and an acoustic wave emitter connected to the control unit for being controlled by the control unit, the noise reducing system comprising an acoustic input and being configured to emit an acoustic equalization wave, phase shifted with respect to the noise and determined on the basis of the acoustic input, to reduce the noise, in particular the noise generated by the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo Spadoni, Martin Kirchmair, Gabriel Spielman
  • Patent number: D983219
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stephan Mühlsteiger, Martin Kirchmair
  • Patent number: D1003316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stephan Mühlsteiger, Martin Kirchmair
  • Patent number: D1020791
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stephan Mühlsteiger, Martin Kirchmair